How to Unclog Your Bathtub Drain – Some Quick and Easy Methods
Poor drain care might result in a bathtub that drains slowly or a full blockage of the pipes. Usually, hairs, thick dirt, or other debris that is difficult to dissolve causes these blocks. The issue at hand is whether you should hire a plumber to unclog your drain or if you should attempt to fix it yourself. In this article, we’ll go over 5 quick and easy ways to unclog a clogged bathtub drain.
Clean Your Bathtub Strainer and Stopper
Bathtub stoppers could be cleaned chemically or without. However, some bathtub stoppers come with screws while others don’t. Your bathtub can be unclogged using our first technique in one of three ways: by cleaning a push drain stopper, a levered stopper, or a drop stopper.
Checking the bathtub drain stopper should be your first step. The majority of clogs are brought on by a buildup of hair and other debris. Depending on the sort of stopper you have, cleaning the strainer and stopper and reassembling everything takes at most 5 minutes. To prevent harm to your draining system, call a drain unclogging expert if you have any doubts.
Push Drain Stopper
The strainer or stopper must first be removed. You might need a screwdriver for that, but take out the tap first before you unscrew the stopper. Remember that you must:
- Choose the right fit screwdriver otherwise you may harm the head of the screw and not be able to remove it.
- Once you unscrew it, keep the screw away from the drain to prevent from losing it once you turn on the water to clean the strainer.
Levered Stoppers
You can manually pull up the cover of your strainer or stopper and remove the tangled obstruction if it doesn’t have a screw. Older bathtubs, on the other hand, typically include a lever on the overflow plate, a cover over the drain, and stoppers inside the drain pipes.
- The first step is to remove the cover and clean the crossbars.
- Then proceed with unscrewing the plate and pulling out the long metal linkage. Clean all parts that you have just taken out and run some water to test the drain pipes.
- If the linkage is wary or crooked, readjust it.
Drop Stopper
The drop stoppers typically include knobs that let you lift them and open the drain, unlike the levered and push stoppers. Under the drop stopper, there is also a screw, though. It must be unscrewed so that you can identify the sort of blockage.
For instance, on occasion it will be wrapped around the crossbars, in which case you will need to cut the wad with a utility knife and remove the debris with needle-nose pliers. Unfortunately, the accumulated blockage under the stopper frequently cannot be removed without using a hefty wire or coat hanger.
Unclogging a Bathtub With a Drain Claw
If clearing the strainer and stopper didn’t work and your clogged bathtub problem still exists, you might want to consider utilising a drain claw. The inexpensive tool’s tiny hooks make it an easy task to unclog your drain.
Step 1. Remove the stopper and strainer if you have one
In order to clear the blockage of hair or soap (or both) under the strainer, you must first remove the strainer. However, you must first remove the stopper’s cap and use the right head of a screwdriver to undo the strainer’s screws. To prevent loosing the screws, place them somewhere other than the blocked drain.
Step 2. Get rid of any excess waste material around the stopper
Around the strainer and stopper, a lot of waste material accumulates over time. Use a washcloth or paper towels to remove it.
Step 3. Push the claw through the drain and clear your clog
After cleaning the strainer and stopper, insert the drain claw as deeply as possible into the pipe. Continue pushing as far as you can down the drain trap once you get there to collect as much of the debris as you can.
Step 4. Pull the drain claw out and clean it for another use
Pull out the claw slowly to allow its tiny hooks to gather the collected hair, soap, and dust. Give the gadget a thorough cleaning once you remove it from your drain to keep it in good condition for any prospective clogs.
Step 5. Test the water flow and assemble everything back
If you want to verify that you have completely cleared the area, run some water. I’m hoping the water will flow down the pipe without any issues. The moment has come to proceed with replacing your strainer if this is the case. This time, you’ll need to screw the strainer back in or, if all you have is a stopper, just put it back in the drain.
Why didn’t this approach resolve the problem? Then try using a plunger to clear the clog in your bathtub.
How to Use a Plunger for Your Bathtub
If using a drain claw did not clear the obstructions, you might need to use a plunger. You must be familiar with how to use a plunger and the proper procedures in order to use this method.
Step 1. Remove the strainer and stopper and clear the area
As was already explained, the strainer and stopper need to be taken out first. To do this, adhere to the steps outlined in one of the earlier techniques.
Step 2. Fill the bathtub with some water and prepare your plunger
Duct tape the perimeter of the main tub drain and pour 2 inches of hot water into the tub to assist dissolve the obstructions. To create suction, place the plunger over the hole.
Step 3. Start plunging and test the drain
Start repeatedly pushing down and drawing up the plunger. The collected filth and hair will start to emerge from the drain, as you will see. Once you’ve removed everything that rises to the surface, quickly scoop them out of the tub and repeat the process numerous times. After finishing, take off the tape and check the water flow.
If that is unsuccessful, the well-known “baking soda and vinegar method” might be necessary.
Unclog Your Bathtub Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Even if the technique of boiling water down the drain while adding vinegar and baking soda sounds a little archaic, we highly suggest it! The products have shown to be efficient in many instances, from unclogging drains to eliminating red wine stains, and they are less hazardous to the drainage system than other chemical compounds.
Step 1. Clean and remove the stopper and strainer
If you want to use baking soda and vinegar to unclog your bathtub, you must keep the strainer and stopper clean. As with our earlier techniques, take out the strainer and/or stopper. Clean the drain after wiping away the trash with a washcloth or paper towels.
Step 2. Pour some boiling water into the drain
Run some boiling water via the drain. To prevent burning yourself, start the pouring process gently. It’s possible that it will clear the blockage and you won’t need to use the vinegar and baking soda at all. To see if the bathtub drains normally, run some water through it. If not, move on to the following action.
Step 3. Add the baking soda and the vinegar
Mix half a cup of baking soda with a cup of vinegar and pour the mixture into the drain.
Step 4. Wait some time and pour boiling water once again
While you are bringing more water to a boil, set your timer for 20 minutes. When it’s time, re-pour the hot water down the drain. A chemical reaction will occur when hot water, baking soda, and vinegar are combined, clearing any obstructions. If the operation was successful, run some water to verify it and repeat it if necessary. Is the tub still clogged? When the bathtub is still clogged, it’s necessary to employ a chemical drain cleaning.
Use Bathtub Drain Cleaner
We’ve discovered that the majority of individuals choose bathtub clog removers. But keep in mind that despite the best bathtub drain cleaner’s quick results, any kind of strong chemical substance can harm pipes. As you risk damaging your environment and the drainage system as a whole, this should only be a last choice.
However, always adhere to the guidelines below if you do choose to utilise such a product.
Step 1. Read the instruction of your products
Before applying any caustic, oxidising, or acid bathtub drain cleaner, always read the directions first. As you will see, each manufacturer has specified the safety measures and precise steps on the back of the device.
Step 2. Remove any water from the tub and use the cleaner
There must be no water left in the bathtub so make sure to take it out using a bucket and dry out the tub before you put the substance into the drain.
Step 3. Wait and flush to see if all is fine
There should be a time limit once you’ve poured the chemicals on the container or package of drain cleaning. After the allotted time has passed, carefully run some water to see if the bathtub clog remover was successful; if not, it’s necessary to call a licenced plumber.
Your Bathtub is Still Not Draining?
Even after trying every trick in this article, if your bathtub is still not draining properly, you most likely need the assistance of a plumber. In some cases, the blockage is much deeper in the drain, and the best course of action, regardless of your DIY efforts, is to call a reputable London plumber.
